Azerbaijan, Baku, April 13 / Trend , A. Huseynbala/
Azerbaijani opposition party says there is no need to hold mass protest actions against the possible opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
"The latest statement by Turkish Prime Minister claiming that Turkey-Armenia border will not be opened until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is restored must be taken seriously," opposition Musavat Party Central Administration Head Arif Hajili told Trend on April 13.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.
Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since.
"I do not think the Movement for Karabakh and Republic, which also includes our party, will decide to stage certain protest action any time soon," he said.
Musavat party was founded in Baku in 1911. The party's was re-launched on Nov. 7, 1992. Gambar was elected chief of Musavat party with majority of votes. Isa Gambar, was the former Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament in 1992 to1993 and was nominated for the 2003 presidential elections. The Party is represented by four MPs in the parliament.
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